Animal Communicators: My Mind To My Pet’s

Tracy Libby

Admit it - you talk to your dog. Everyone does it. We ask things like, "Who's a good boy?" or "Where's your ball?" They answer in typical doggie fashion by barking, wagging their tails, jumping up and down, or bolting out the door.

Have you ever wondered what your dog is really saying? What type of conversations you might have if he could speak to you? I mean really speak to you. Real life Dr. Doolittles, more officially known as animal communicators, pet psychics, or dog whisperers, are a growing business, and they claim they can actually talk to animals.

More and more owners are turning to animal communicators for help in figuring out how to communicate with their pets. Health concerns and behavioral issues are the primary reasons owners seek their advice. Owners may want to know about the pet's past or how he is settling into his new home. Some pets are acting inappropriately or out of the ordinary and owners want to know why.

An intelligent, dog-training friend of mine confided that she had spoken with an animal communicator and was told her Golden Retriever disliked doing obedience—that's why he was such a mess in the ring. But that was pretty obvious to the most casual observer standing ringside.

Another friend admitted she consulted with an animal communicator. Her deceased dog said he loved sleeping in the sun under the yellow curtains when he was alive. "It's true," she said. "He loved that spot in the house." It was proof enough for her that her dog spoke via an animal communicator.

Then there's the YouTube clip where the dog says, "Ahhh roooo uuuu." It sounds like, "I love you." Sure, it's funny and entertaining, but do dogs really talk? In 1912, Harry Miles Johnson of Johns Hopkins University said, "No." The dog's speech is "the production of vocal sounds which produce illusion in the hearer," Johnson wrote.

Having trained and competed with my dogs for close to 30 years, I know my dogs communicate via body language, but to think they actually talk seems a bit crazy, doesn’t it? If they could talk, would they say, “You're a good person. I'm glad and grateful to have you as my owner?” Or might they say, “I'm only in it for the cookies!”?

What About Telepathic Communication?

Depending on how open-minded you are, you may not buy into the whole animal communication idea. I'm open-minded, but I'm a skeptic because it defies science and logic. I want to know that my sweet, brave Australian Shepherd, Miles, forgives me for being selfish and not letting him cross to the rainbow bridge sooner. I want Haven to tell me why she barks every single solitary time my husband comes into my office. Why does Pony insist on eating dog poop, but only Jiggy's dog poop? Really, I want to know. Alas, I already know the answers. Okay, maybe not the one about Jiggy's dog poop. That remains a mystery.

What Is Animal Communication?

Experts like Maia Kincaid, Ph.D., animal communicator and author of Dogs Say the Darndest Things. Are You Listening? say animal communication is a telepathic communication and anyone can learn to speak to animals. It's all about a deeper intuition rather than about deciphering a dog's body language. An actual exchange of information happens—a dialogue in the form of words, mental images, feelings, and more—between a communicator and an animal.

Kincaid says she hears actual words and carries on conversations with animals. "I ask them to tell me about themselves, how they are feeling, are they getting enough exercise or nutrients," explains Kincaid. "When I first meet a dog telepathically, I often feel a wave of joy wash over me in a powerful emotion."

Kincaid, who teaches animal communication, says owners need to set aside their assumptions, beliefs, preconceived notions, and concerns about their pet so that they can truly hear him or her.

I tried. I took deep, calming breaths. I cleared my mind. I didn't hear Miles. I only heard Haven barking.

Kincaid says it's much harder to converse with our own animals because we may have difficulty hearing anything other than what we think we already know. "It is much like listening to another human. If we think we know everything about them based on our observations, we may have difficulty hearing anything other than what we think we already know."

Many communicators describe animal communication as a gift they received at an early age. Others began exploring it as adults, while others honed their skill from books, seminars, and years of practice. While experts say anyone can learn to talk to animals—it isn't cheap. Courses can run a few hundred to several thousand dollars. And speaking of price, animal communicators charge anywhere from $40 per 15 minute session to several hundred dollars for a 60 minute session, with most conversing by telephone or the internet. A few communicators make house calls too.

For owners with strong emotional ties to their pets, it's easy to be seduced into a good story. However, not all animal communicators are legitimate. Do your research before opening your wallet. Val Heart, an animal communicator who specializes in helping people who are struggling with their animals, says the goal of a communicator is to "offer insight, clarity and guidance to help resolve problems between you and your animal friends." A few of the tips she offers for finding a good communicator include:

Do your research and choose a few animal communicators who appeal to you. Everyone has his or her special area of interest and expertise. If you like the look and feel of the person's website and information, contact the person.

Interview the communicators. Ask questions. How long have they been working as an animal communicator? Will they provide references?

Do they offer any guarantees with their work? What will they do if you are unhappy with the session? For example, a guarantee may be if the communicator is unable to establish clear and accurate communication with your animal in the first 15 minutes, then you won't be charged.

While you can't predict when your pet is going to get sick or injured, you can protect yourself from expensive veterinary bills. Embrace Pet Insurance gives you the freedom to do what’s best for your pet without stressing over the cost. Easily personalize your coverage to fit your budget and your pet’s needs, then visit any vet for nose-to-tail coverage. Check out what the Embrace plan covers or compare pet insurance providers to learn more.